Illiana Expressway report released, with a west leg only so far. This seems to have those in southern Porter County most against the tollway calmed, but what about those in southern Lake County?
The City of Valparaiso pools over $700,000 for sidewalk replacement. Here's a question, what is the city paying to install these sidewalks? In the past it was quite evident that concrete and construction companies were pillaging cities and towns by over-charging, with the construction labor market weak these prices should be even less now right?
Crown Point and Winfield are preparing for the new I-65 interchange, still no plans though in Porter County for the increase in traffic or growth?
Opinion piece calls for City of Gary officials to attend Local Government Academy, first problem there is no Local Government Academy anymore and secondly who is going to pay?
A report from the Young Republicans National Convention in Indianapolis over the weekend, with some disappointing election problems, and lots of comments about YR's. One of our authors here is the local YR chair, and I hope he'll be writing his own update for our readers soon.
More on City of Gary trash dispute, while trash continues to pile up and neither the city nor GSD is picking it up.
And from LaPorte County, where the assessing and auditing function are having even more problems than Porter County these days, this public notice which eerily suggests that the DLGF is having to do the job for the county officers:
Notice of Public Hearing
on Department of Local Government Finance’s Performance of Annual Adjustment for 2009 pay 2010 property taxes in LaPorte County
The Indiana Department of Local Government Finance (“Department”) has determined that LaPorte County has not made annual adjustments to assessed valuations required by 50 IAC 21 for 2009 pay 2010 property taxes. By law, when a county fails to make an annual adjustment to assessed valuations, the Department must perform that task for the county.
Pursuant to Indiana law, certified notice is hereby given that on Monday, July 20, 2009, at 6:30 p.m. (CDT), in Conference Room 2 of the LaPorte County Complex Annex Building, 809 State Street, La Porte, Indiana, the Department will hold a public hearing concerning its performance of the annual adjustment on real property.
Using data permitted by 50 IAC 21-12-1, the Department proposes to apply the following adjustment factors to assessed real property values in LaPorte County for 2009 pay 2010 property taxes:
Vacant Industrial 100%
Improved Industrial 101%
Vacant Commercial 100%
Improved Commercial 101%
Vacant Residential 100%
Improved Residential 97%
The hearing is open to the public. Anyone interested in participating in the public hearing is encouraged to attend and may speak or submit written statements expressing his concerns. Written comments may be submitted in advance to Brian E. Bailey, General Counsel, Department of Local Government Finance, Indiana Government Center North, 100 N. Senate Ave., Rm. N1058, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204.
Signed this 2nd day of July, 2009.
Timothy J. Rushenberg, Commissioner
Department of Local Government Finance
